BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HUTCHINSON  — The Great Bend Bat Cats were one fly ball from igniting a miraculous rally to their 2025 season.

But Great Bend's heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Hutchinson Monarchs summarized a tough-luck baseball season.

When Hutchinson's Jake Knox lofted a lazy pop fly to right field, he jogged to first base on what appeared to be the game-ending out.

However, Bat Cats right fielder Logan Renken was unable to locate a high pop fly in the dwindling twilight. The baseball landed 10 feet away and bounced over Renken's head off the artificial turf. Knox raced to second base and could've been thrown out before Dylan Bell scored the game-winning run. But Renken's throw landed near the pitcher's mound.

Hard-luck loser Cade Kunz (1-2, 3.06 ERA) inherited a 2-1 lead, and walked Drew Bugner and Bell in the ninth-inning while recording two outs. 

Great Bend played its best 82/3 innings of summer baseball against a high-quality opponent. 

Bat Cats starter Jacob Field (1.50 ERA, 231/3 IP) completed eight brilliant innings, ending with a 5-4-3 double play turned by shortstop T.J. Shaw and second baseman Kyle Walker.

Great Bend's Tony Moore drilled a second-inning homer. Renken doubled and scored on Walker's third-inning sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

Field retired 16 of 17 batters until Tyler Mitchell tripled and scored on a Jake Gutierrrez seventh-inning single for  2-1 score. Field escaped a third-and-first jam with a double play groundball hit by J.J. Spafford. 

A victory would've drawn Great Bend (15-13, 14-11 Jayhawk) within one-half game behind the Derby Twins (19-10, 17-10 Jayhawk) for a likely NBC World Series berth. 

The Bat Cats finished 1-7 against the top two Jayhawk teams, including Hutchinson (23-5, 21-5 Jayhawk). The Monarchs were the 2024 NBC World Series runner-up and won the 2023 NBC title.

MONARCHS 11, BAT CATS 1 (5 INNINGS) — After losing a last-play setback, the Great Bend Bat Cats collapsed against Hutchinson, the 2-time NBC World Series finalist.

Hutchinson scored early and often, roaring to an 11-0 lead after 31/2 innings. J.J. Spafford doubled,and drove home three runs with three hits. Jackson Legg and Tyson Vassart each drove in two runs. Jeter Worthley singled three times and drove home a run.

The Bat Cats were lifeless for 41/2 innings outside of a spectacular diving catch by shortstop T.J. Shaw. 

Monarch starter Pryce Bender threw 42/3 no-hit innings, but the Bat Cats prevented a shutout after a a hit batter and two fifth-inning walks. Logan Renken scored on Kyle Walker's groundout for an 11-1 score.

The game was ruled an official game by lightning in the sixth inning.

Hutchinson 103 70 — 11 14 0

GB Bat Cats 000 01 — 1 0 3

Bender, Vinduska (5) and Knox. Khan, Bougher (4) and Nohinek. W—Bender. L—Khan. 2B—H—Legg, Spafford, Vassart. 3B—H—Legg.

GB Bat Cats 011 000 000 — 2 4 1

Hutchinson 000 001 002 — 3 6 0

Field, Kunz (8) and Leon. McClure, Chamberlain (7), Dickey (8) and Knox. W—Dickey. L—Kunz, 1-2. 2B—GB— Brazzle, Ranken; H—Knox. 3B—H—Mitchell. HR—GB—Moore (3).

JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE LEAGUE 

Hutchinson Monarchs 22-5 24-5

Derby Twins 17-10 19-10

Junction City Brigade 15-11 17-11

GB Bat Cats 14-11 15-13

Haysville Aviators 14-12 17-12

Rose Hill Wildcats 11-13 11-13  

Kansas Cannons 11-13 13-14-1 

Newton Rebels 6-18 7-20

Kingman Islanders 6-23 6-23

7-8—Derby 14, Kingman 1; Monarchs 8, Aviators 1; Hays 9, Cannons 5

7-9—Monarchs 3, Bat Cats 2; Cannons 10, Derby 4; Haysville 10-2, Brigade 6-6; Newton 11, Kingman 3

7-10—Monarchs 11, Bat Cats 1; Newton 11, Kingman 4; Cannons 13-3, Derby 1-7

7-11—Monarchs 17, Kingman 4

7-12—Bat Cats at Cannons (2); Liberal at Derby; Wildcats at Haysville (2); Kingman at Monarchs; Newton at Brigade (2)

7-13—Cannons at Bat Cats; Liberal at Derby

7-14—Bat Cats at Aviators; Brigade at Monarchs; Newton at Cannons

7-15—Aviators at Bat Cats; Monarchs at Brigade; Derby at Wildcats; Cannons at Newton

7-16—Wildcats at Derby; Brigade at Newton

7-17—Bat Cats  at Kingman; Monarchs at Wildcats; Derby at Newton; Cannons at Aviators

7-18—Kingman at Bat Cats; Wildcats at Monarchs; Newton at Derby; Aviators at Cannons

GB Bat Cats —

Kansas Cannons —

and. and. 2B—GB—C—